THEInternational Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is forming an Illegal Gambling Working Group (IGWG) with an increased commitment to safeguarding and improving global gambling regulatory practices.
Following extensive discussions at the 2023 Botswana conference on the significant challenges that illegal gambling activities pose to our member jurisdictions, the IAGR Council decided to create this vital working group.
The purpose of the IGWG is to facilitate the sharing of information, experiences and learning between jurisdictions and to assist, where appropriate, the establishment of more formal arrangements for collaboration and intelligence sharing.
The Gambling Commission of Great Britain (GC) has volunteered to set up and run the IGWG with Ian Angus, director of policy, who is expected to chair the inaugural session in late March/early April.
The IGWG will meet as a confidential forum for regulators to:
- Exchange information on the challenges of illegal gambling
- Share distinct jurisdictional experiences and strategies against illegal operations
- Support emerging gambling jurisdictions in transitioning to a regulated market structure
- Engage with external experts, enhancing discussions outside of our regulatory community
- Share best practices to combat illegal gambling
- Serve as a liaison to regulatory authorities requesting the exchange of confidential information
- Help in developing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to consolidate international cooperation
- Facilitate interagency cooperation to strengthen our collective regulatory efforts
“Our approach – IAGR says – is designed to provide a coherent response to the pervasive problem of unlicensed gambling”.
Membership of the IGWG remains open to all IAGR members, with support expected from the Board of Trustees to advance the group's recommendations.
Interested members are asked to complete the expression of interest form by February 28th to formalize participation.
